Category Archives: Studio Blog

We’re excited to announce that there will soon be a new look and layout to the Grupa Portrait Studio website. We will be able to feature more client images and give you easier navigation to the information you want.

We’ve recently completed an update of our sports website. If you’re looking for information on team and league sports photography, visit www.DavidGrupaSports.com to see all that we offer in that area!

Celebrate Your Athletes With Sports Banners!

Fall sports are in full swing with the rivalries and team spirit making games exciting. Another great way to celebrate your athletes is with vinyl sports banners to display at games!

We work with a number of high schools who really love these durable sports banners. Many schools honor the senior class athletes by having sports banners created with special images and graphics. Pictured above are the banners from the Hill-Murray Varsity Football Team; we think they look great, especially hanging from the stands at the game!

David Grupa Sports (the sports photography division of David Grupa Portrait) also produced sports banners for Concordia Academy in Roseville, MN featuring the senior class athletes from the football, volleyball, soccer and cross country teams. A few of those are shown here as well.

Sports Banners are designed with your team’s colors and custom graphics. All sports banners are printed on heavyweight 13 oz vinyl with seamed edges and metal grommets in the corners for easy hanging and excellent durability. These can be displayed indoors or out and are built to handle the elements!

To have David Grupa Sports create these awesome sports banners for your team and players, give the studio a call today! 651.748.8779

It’s funny. I’ve been photographing high school seniors for more years than I can remember and almost every parent pauses to catch their breath when they see the final images. In their mind, they still see the cute little 5 year old heading off to their first day of school with a fistful of pencils and a brand-new backpack.

Then they pause and say “they grow up way too quickly.”

Even though both of my sons are grown and past the senior portrait stage, the feeling never really goes away. Last weekend, Kirsten and I had the pleasure of photographing my youngest son, Joseph, and his fiancee Taylor. Both graduated from the University of Minnesota Duluth this past spring and are now planning a wedding for next April.

As you can see, these two are a really great couple and are awesome together. It’s exciting to think about welcoming a new member into the family. (It may even be more exciting to attend a wedding and not worry about bringing my camera!)

When was the last time you got the whole gang together for a family portrait? If you’re like most people, the answer is “too long ago.”

While a photograph of the entire family “all together” is a great experience, there are some times when it’s simply not possible to get all the members in the same room at the same time. As the kids grow up and start their own lives, sometimes it’s a trick just to get them all in the same city or state!

This is where the Family Composite fills a great need. You can still have the family portrait that you desire, while allowing family members to be photographed at a convenient time for each group. The excuses of “Johnny has hockey practice” or “Jenny has dance” can be easily overcome. Simply schedule each family group with us and we will photograph them in the studio and do the digital magic necessary to create an awesome family portrait just like the ones you see here.

Give us a call at 651.748.8779 to learn more about this great new option for your family portrait!

A new business portrait can spruce up your online presence.

Take a look at your online profiles. You know the ones; Facebook, LinkedIn, perhaps BNI or another networking group. Now, look specifically at your business portrait.

Honestly . . . how old is it? Does it even resemble who you saw in the mirror this morning?

For many people, getting a new business portrait ranks about even with a trip to the dentist. It doesn’t have to be that way.

David Grupa Portrait would love to create a new business portrait for you. And during March, you can save $50 off the Business Basic or Business Plus Sessions. That’s right, just $149 for a new business portrait. If that’s not incentive enough, here are a few more reasons:

We are convenient – you will be photographed in our Maplewood studio. If you prefer, we can come to you.

We are efficient – your session and image selection generally runs under an hour.

We are Certified Professional Photographers – experience counts; both David and Kirsten hold the CPP designation.

You receive a great value – you’ll get your portrait in print, web and profile resolutions, ready for business cards, brochures, your website and online profiles.

Delivery is fast – your images are delivered online in about 48 hours.

You will have fun – we want your session to be an enjoyable experience!

Best of all, during March, David Grupa Portrait will make a $24 donation from each business session to PPA Charities, the philanthropic arm of the Professional Photographers of America. Together with their charitable partner, Operation Smile, you will be making a difference in the life of a child born with a facial deformity.

Go ahead, pick up the phone and call to schedule your new business portrait appointment today.

Professional Sports Portraits Celebrate Their Accomplishments!

We do everything for our kids when it comes to their sports. We sit in cold bleachers to watch games and get up at crazy hours to drive them all over for practices. We celebrate with their wins and console them in their defeats. Yet, once the season is over, what do we have to show?

That’s why David Grupa Portrait believes in professional sports portraits. Whether we’re photographing a single athlete, their whole team or the entire league, the staff at David Grupa Portrait will make sure that you get top-quality images. you can display your professional sports portraits now, then place them into a memory book and relive the “glory days” later! (Even though your son or daughter doesn’t realize it right now, these are the photographs that he or she will want to share with their own kids later!)

So whether it’s Picture Day for their league or you want something extra-special to celebrate the championship win, David Grupa Portrait will be proud to create professional sports portraits for you!

A couple of months ago we received a request from a client. Judd was planning a trip to Duluth with his girlfriend Natalie for their anniversary. However, Judd was planning a very special surprise.

On October 18th near Jay Cooke State Park, the air was crisp and the sun was shining. Judd and Natalie were on their way to meet me for a session. Natalie had no idea what had been in the works for quite some time. For her, she was on her way to be photographed with her boyfriend as a fun addition to their special weekend away. In reality, I had been working out the details with Judd for the perfect proposal!

Back to that special request; Judd commissioned us to capture Natalie’s expression as he popped the question. We discussed different ways to accomplish this without giving away the secret. In the end, we decided to schedule a couples’ portrait session. It allowed me to coordinate the perfect location (plus it insured that Natalie would be photo ready!)

I’ll admit – I was so nervous! I really only had one chance to get this right. As they arrived I reminded myself that Natalie thought this was a regular session. I chatted with her just as I would before any session. We walked to the spot I’d selected. (It really was perfect . . . as you can see.) As we started the session I took 2 photos and then said, “My memory card is full.” I’d have to walk a little ways back to my car to get another. As I was rushing away I was really hoping this wasn’t looking like a set-up. Judd knew to give me a few minutes to get into place. Then it happened. Down on a knee, there were tears, hugs and once he asked she said, “Yes!!!”

I love the image of Natalie noticing me, which was followed by “You knew!!!” and excitedly shouting “I’m going to be an Andrews!!!!”

She had NO idea. She was so surprised and so happy! The proposal was immediately followed by their engagement photos.

I love pulling off surprises! Thank-you, Judd, for being the coolest boyfriend and wanting to do this. You’ve set the bar pretty high.

Saturday May 3rd was the 14th Annual Starry Night Prom hosted by the students of DeLaSalle High School in Minneapolis. The students put on a semi-formal prom for persons living with disabilities. The entire event is a service put on by the DeLaSalle High School Lasallian Ministry. Over 1000 individuals enjoyed an evening of fun, music and dancing.

Photographs of those attending were provided by members of the Minnesota Professional Photographers Association, of which David is a member and past-president. This is the 5th year that David Grupa and the MNPPA have been involved in this event.